The Futureheads – 'News And Tributes' (679) Released 29/05/2006

 

Like a train approaching in the distance, its sound and vision creeps up on you steadily, eventually reaching a crescendo of shuddering energy, before disappearing in an instant – this is intro track ‘Yes/No’, as the rail track drums gradually maintain velocity to roar into a series of guitar waves and battering ram vocals. With only 3 minutes in, it is clear that ‘New And Tributes’ isn’t going to be a half-hearted attempt to ensure the bills get paid. Their instantly recognisable vocal-orientated layering of jagged-edged punk that has brought The ‘Heads to where they are still remains on tracks ‘Cope’ and ‘Fallout’, however a new sense of darkened echoes and (almost) melancholic vocals is evident in their production. Take ‘Burnt’, an acoustic led heart-breaker as the verse vocal endings echo in eeriness. This is followed in the same light on the ‘Thursday’, a refined slice of Blur’s ‘The Great Escape’ album cementing The ‘Heads progression and maturity from their debut album. 

 

The songs are darker, more emotive, and clearly more consolidated. Each track flows into the other, but every time provides a new but contrasting element to their sound.  Latest single ‘Skip To The End’ is as pop as The ‘Heads are ever going to get as the chop stick verse powers into a stand up and rejoice sing-a-long chorus as the lyrics “Nah na na na na nah there’s nothing to rely on, common skip to the end”.  Arguably the stand out track of the album ‘Worry About It Later’ culminates all of these qualities into one song. Peers look on in jealousy as this is a knack many will never pull off.  A verse that lures you in but always maintains a sense of unsettlement.  The momentum gradually gathers and evolves into a chorus that layers the drums and the bass whilst keeping the same verse rhythms to produce a stomping chorus of sheer excellence. As much as we want to avoid the pun, it is too fitting to resist, as these four geeky misfits are the undeniable future heads of modern punk music.